Providence Recruiting Update: New Offers and Interest

Putting aside for a moment the search for an impact big man to help the 2015-16 squad let’s take a look at some of the other things Providence has been doing on the recruiting trail of late. There have been some new offers extended and new interest in another transfer player reported all in the last few days. Let’s get to know some of the new Friar targets.

Lindy Waters III

  • Class of 2016
  • Norman North HS
  • Hometown: Norman, OK
  • Shooting Guard
  • 6’6 185 lbs
  • AAU Team: Oklahoma Wizards

This offer seemingly flew under the radar as it was first reported back on May 29th by Matt Reynolds of PrephoopsOklahoma.com via his Twitter account. Lindy Waters III, or Trey as he goes by, is running with the Oklahoma Wizards on the Adidas Gauntlet series. Waters III averaged 17.0 points/game and 4.8 rebounds/game through the 8 games of the two weekends of action on that circuit. He scored 20 or more points in half of those games, including a game where he went 6/9 from beyond the arc. In the most recent release of the Rivals Top 150 for the class of 2016 Waters III was ranked 137th in the class.

He has a slew of offers currently with the high major ones only starting to come in at the end of April following the Indianapolis stop of the Adidas Gauntlet series. His other offers to date are Abilene Christian, Bradley, Brown, Butler, Central Arkansas, Cincinnati, Clemson, Davidson, Fordham, Fresno State, George Mason, Harvard, Houston, Iowa State, Loyola (MD), Mercer, North Florida, Northeastern, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Princeton, Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington, Utah Valley, William & Mary and Yale. His father is an administrator at the University of Oklahoma.

Chuba Ohams

  • Class of 2016
  • Woodstock Academy
  • Hometown: New York, NY
  • Shooting Guard
  • 6’7 187 lbs
  • AAU Team: NY Panthers

Ohams is another NYC product who will take his talents to Woodstock Academy (formerly Putnam Science Academy) next season joining 2016 Mamadou Diarra — a recent UConn commit — and 2017 Hamidou Diallo as NYC natives at the Connecticut prep school. While Diarra is off the board, Diallo is very much on Providence’s big board along with 2016 Saul Phiri — another recent transfer into Woodstock Academy. Between Diallo, Phiri and Ohams it appears Providence coaches will be spending a lot of time at Woodstock this year.

Ohams is a versatile player who can play multiple positions but projects as a college wing player. He currently holds offers from Duquesne, Iona, LIU-Brooklyn, North Dakota and Providence.

Bryce Aiken

  • Class of 2016
  • The Patrick School
  • Hometown: Randolph, NJ
  • Point Guard
  • 6’0 180 lbs
  • AAU Team: PSA Cardinals

Aiken is a bit undersized but its clear when you watch him play that he can run a team. He plays for an excellent high school program at The Patrick School and the PSA Cardinals are loaded with talent and run on the Nike EYBL circuit. During the EYBL regular season Aiken averaged 11.6 points/game, 2.8 assists/game and 2.5 rebounds/game. Providence is currently recruiting 5 of Aiken’s teammates and another 2 players that play for the 16U PSA Cardinals.

Aiken’s other offers are from Auburn, Buffalo, Butler, Creighton, Delaware, Detroit, Florida State, Harvard, Hofstra, Illinois, La Salle, Manhattan, Maryland, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida, St. Francis Brooklyn, St. Peter’s and Yale.

Terrence Samuel

  • Class of 2013/Transferring from UConn
  • South Shore HS
  • Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
  • Shooting Guard
  • 6’4 202 lbs
  • 2 Years of Eligibility Remaining

My guess on Providence’s interest in Samuel is that they see that he has upside as a big point guard and with the combination of Andre LaFleur, Jeff Battle and God Shammgod on the coaching staff the Friars would be the program that could mold a player like Samuel into that role. Samuel played in 65 games across 2 seasons at UConn, getting 8 starts. During those 65 career games he averaged 3.0 points/game, 1.7 rebounds/game and 1.2 assists/game. He will have to sit out the 2015-16 per NCAA transfer rules and then would have two years of eligibility remaining.

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